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NATION – According to the Humane Society of the United States, a law that passed in 1976 which banned the sale of small pet turtles could be repealed if a current motion passes through Congress.
Turtles, like all reptiles, carry Salmo… more ›

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Laws aren't helpful if they aren't enforced. People need to be smart enough to not buy a cute tiny turtle on impulse, but they aren't. I think education is key-although many people will always see animals as disposable.

I don't think the law was being followed very well, and the law was only in place due to mass panic. However, my neighbor's child was hospitalized with salmonella after forgetting to wash her hands after playing with her turtle. I think children just shouldn't be allowed to be around pets by themselves until they are at the age where they can understand the importance of hand washing, etc.

I had a couple of turtles when I was young. I remember being disappointed that they really did not do very much and they died after a few months. I had the little plastic tank with the ramp and the palm tree.....poor turtles. Sorry ...

Not all reptiles carry it, and not all animals that carry it are reptiles! Salmonella is carried in the animal's stool, so any animal that soaks in water with their waste or climbs about their cage on top of waste can carry the disease. Here's a "fun fact" about the small turtle law - I used to work at a pet store and people often questioned why it was OK to sell turtles larger than 4". The answer is that the law was passed to prevent these small turtles from making it into the hands of children who are able to fit the turtles IN THEIR MOUTHS! This, of course, is a direct route to contracting salmonella if the pet is a carrier. Washing hands after touching any pet or their home is always the best solution!

I inadvertently bought 2 small turtles, not realising what they were. I had no idea what the expenses would be for these 2/$10 critters, and the sad thing is that most people won't invest in these little guys. They deserve better than what most people give them if they buy them as cute little things.

I bought a small red eared slider years ago. Got her in Myrtle Beach. I still have her -she's like 10 years old now. I take good care of her, clean the water, and take proper precautions. I think the problem is that people just don't keep the water sanitary.

Wht are they going to reverse a law that has benefited both turtles and people. Do they have a shortage of things that need fixed to worry about nonsense such as this. Well, a couple of years from now after many turtles died and kids have gotten sick they will have to go back to banning it. Talk about going in circles.

Just another tragic outcome of the trend toward decreased government regulation. Come on, people! If the government doesn't watch out for us, who will? Certainly not the profiteering money grubbers who are only interested in lining their own pockets! What turtle dealer has a pipeline to the White House? I get four dollar a gallon gas--Big oil runs the country--but what is this with the sale of little turtles, a danger not only to humans but fatal to the little creatures themselves?

When we were kids we had little turtles like this but I didn't think it was legal to sell them anymore. Haven't seen them in years. They were easy to care for and good for people who couldn't have dogs/cats, etc.

Having worked in a public health lab, I can attest to the Salmonella infections related to pet turtles. Ironically, I had turtles as a child (as did many of my friends), and don't remember any problems!